Work will begin early Monday on the anticipated $30 million Easton-Phillipsburg toll bridge project, which is expected to cause Route 22 traffic problems so substantial that the agency doing the work has created a toll-free phone line and project-specific email to handle motorists' inquiries.

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission says crews are scheduled to start working at 2 a.m., prompting the closure of one lane of traffic in each direction of the highway near the bridge.

The work, which isn’t expected to be completed until spring 2015, includes repairing the bridge deck; blast cleaning and painting the truss; installing a bridge drainage system; performing various steel, concrete and masonry repair work; reconstructing and repaving the bridge's approach; and upgrading the toll plaza, according to the commission.

The commission today announced it has established the phone line and email address to field concerns and comments from the public during the two-year project. Motorists can access the “project information” line by calling 855-FIX-SPAN (855-349-7726) 24 hours, seven days a week.

Upon dialing the number, an inquiring motorist will hear a prerecorded general information message, ending with an invitation to ask questions or leave a comment. Officials say the goal is to try and provide a response within one business day for any call, provided a motorist clearly leaves their contact information.

The commission also has created a specific email address at 22tollbridge@drjtbc.org for motorist input on the project.

Commission officials say the phone line and email are being launched because they anticipate severe traffic impacts that will rise during peak commuting periods, beginning with Monday’s rush hour -- most noticeably in the eastbound direction of Route 22 in Easton.

In addition to the single-lane travel conditions, there will be traffic shifts, 10-foot wide travel lanes and ramp closures on the bridge’s Easton side at various intervals throughout the project.

The commission has urged motorists they shouldn't rely on the free bridge, with a 3-ton weight restriction, as an alternative. Instead, officials want motorists to allow for extra time and rely on Interstate 78. While officials anticipate headaches, they say work is necessary to update a bridge that hasn't had a major infrastructure overhaul since 1980.

Both the toll-free line and email address are additional public outreach measures by the commission since the project was launched. Others have included Twitter feeds @22Tollbridge and a web page about the project at drjtbc.org/tollbridgerehab. Long-term lane closures also will be posted on the 511 travel alert systems in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

They can be accessed by dialing 511 while being in either state or online at 511nj.org.

Outreach information also will be posted on signs in the project area and contact information will be provided on handout cards that will be made available in the cash toll lanes at the commission’s toll plaza on the bridge’s Phillipsburg side, commission officials said.